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New conference for the Leathernecks

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Rachael Keating/Rachael Keating
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Western Illinois University/Photography and Design Production
Cross Country and Track Studio Gray 700.4791

Western Illinois University’s sports teams are changing conferences.

The Leathernecks will become part of the Ohio Valley Conference in all sports except football beginning this fall.

The football schedule for this fall had already been set, so that team will switch to the Ohio Valley in the fall of 2024.

WIU is currently in the Missouri Valley Conference for football, and had been in the Summit League for other sports.

The Ohio Valley Conference’s other schools include Eastern Illinois University, Southern Illinois University – Edwardsville, Lindenwood, Little Rock, Morehead State, Southeast Missouri, University of Southern Indiana, Tennessee State, Tennessee Tech, and University of Tennessee at Martin.

In a news release, WIU Director of Athletics Paul A. Bubb said, "When you look at the schools in the Ohio Valley Conference, you see schools which are similar in enrollment, the size of communities where they exist, the academic programs they offer and the athletic budgets each has to work with at the Division I level."

Tri States Public Radio produced this story.  TSPR relies on financial support from readers and listeners in order to provide coverage of the issues that matter to west central Illinois, southeast Iowa, and northeast Missouri. As someone who values the content created by TSPR's news department please consider making a financial contribution.

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Rich is TSPR's News Director.